To provide visa applicants with standard and quality services, in accordance with the arrangement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of P.R.C, the Chinese Embassy in Botswana will start using the online visa application and appointment system from June 10, 2021. The specific arrangements are as follows:

1. As of June 10, visa applicants are required to log on http://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn and fill in the visa application form online. After completing the form online, applicants may enter the visa appointment interface by clicking the button of "Start to book appointment", or afterwards log on http://avas.cs.mfa.gov.cn, enter contact information and Application ID to make an appointment for visa application.

Applicants are required to submit passports and other required documents to the Chinese Embassy in Botswana with the printed complete application form and the signed Confirmation of Online Visa Application as per scheduled appointment.

2. Exceptions to the above arrangements:

1). The visa application for Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions of China will remain unchanged, and there is no need for online visa application and appointment. During the COVID-19 period, for enquiry of visa policies of Hong Kong and Macao, please visit the official websites of Immigration Department of Hong Kong SAR (http://www.immd.gov.hk/) and Public Security Police Force of Macao SAR (https://www.fsm.gov.mo/psp/cht/main.html) for details.

2). The diplomatic and official passport holders as well as those who apply for diplomatic or official visas do not need to make an appointment. However, applicants are required to fill in and print the complete online application form pursuant to the above-mentioned requirements. According to the Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption between China and Botswana, Botswana diplomatic and official passport holders do not need to apply for visas.

3. The Embassy would like to REMIND that during the COVID-19 period, the Embassy only accepts visa applications from personnel approved by provincial Foreign Affairs Office or the competent commercial department in China or with urgent humanitarian needs. If you have already obtained the Invitation Letter issued by the provincial Foreign Affairs Office or the competent commercial department, or the critical illness notice or death certificate of immediate family member, you can directly log on http://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn to fill in the visa application form and make appointment accordingly.